A woman was arrested on suspicion of embezzling nearly $90,000 from nonprofit organizations, including multiple Girl Scout troops, authorities said Wednesday.
Deputies arrested Patricia Cascione Monday at the sheriff's Santa Clarita Valley Station for suspicion of grand theft and theft by false pretense, then served a search warrant at her home and recovered additional evidence, according to Deputy Marvin Crowder of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Cascione was treasurer for multiple Girl Scout troops, in addition to a Girl Scouts Service Unit in Santa Clarita, over the past 20 years, Crowder said.
During the course of a 15-month investigation, Fraud and Cyber Crime Bureau detectives became aware of potential fraudulent activity and alleged that during the past five years Cascione embezzled over $58,000 from several Girl Scout troops and unit bank accounts she had control over, Crowder said.
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles released a statement about the investigation.
"We are aware of the arrest and charges brought against a former volunteer for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles regarding the alleged mishandling or misuse of funds of two troops and a service unit in the Santa Clarita region. Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles has investigated this incident and will continue to cooperate fully with any ongoing police investigation. Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles has very high standards and expectations of our volunteers and consider honesty one of the hallmarks of Girl Scouts—it is our mission to instill and inspire in girls the courage, confidence, and character to make the world a better place.”
Detectives also determined Cascione, while chief financial officer of the Beverly Hills Cancer Center, was alleged to have committed theft by false pretense of over $30,000, Crowder said.
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Cascione was also responsible for fundraising for several other organizations in the Santa Clarita Valley and investigators believe there may be other victims and asked anyone with information or questions to contact Sgt.
David Chambers with the sheriff's Fraud and Cyber Crimes Bureau at (661) 471-1534.
